Effect of Calcination Temperature and Ca:eg Ratio on Tl and Osl Curve Components of Neighborite

Abstract

This study reveals the differences created by varying calcination temperature and citric acid/ethylene glycol ratio (CA:EG) in thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) curves so that the Neighborite (NaMgF3) compound synthesized using sol-gel can be used as a radiation dosimeter. While producing NaMgF3 phosphors, four different calcination temperatures (700, 800, 900 and 1000 °C) were applied for the calcination process. Characterization analyzes of the samples were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that the oxide phases in the crystal structure of the sample increased gradually with increasing calcination temperature. At 1000 °C, it was observed that the crystal structure of the sample was deformed and moved away from the aimed structure. Considering the signal intensities in the TL and OSL glow curves obtained after radiation exposure and the data in the characterization analyzes, the calcination temperature of 800 °C was determined as the optimum temperature. This calcination temperature was kept constant and the samples were reproduced by changing the CA:EG ratio in four different ways (2:4, 4:4, 8:4 and 16:4). By comparing all the sample, the samples with the best crystallization and the most suitable surface morphology were determined. In TL glow curves, it was observed that deep traps could be formed only in samples calcined at 800 °C. Likewise, it was observed from the OSL glow curves that the samples calcined at 800 °C had higher sensitivity. It has been stated that the low sensitivity of the samples calcined at high temperatures is due to the density of the oxide phases formed in the calcination process.